Lady in White

The Elizabethan Lady Series #2

by Denise Domning

A Widow with Nowhere to Go
Commanded by Queen Elizabeth into marriage with a man made monstrous by a childhood accident, Lady Arabella Purfoy dares not refuse. With neither family nor allies to shield her from the plots that whirl around her, Belle must give fortune, family and even her body into the care of her new husband's steward, Master James Wyatt.

A Man Sworn to Expose Her
Master James Wyatt is certain that Lady Purfoy is a Protestant spy sent by his queen to prove his Catholic employer, Squire Nicholas Hollier, a traitor. Jamie will do anything, even pretend to be Nick, to protect his dearest friend from the tides of treachery that threaten to destroy them all.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Fiction, Ebooks

352 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

What can I say? I’m single and over sixty, I write and I farm on eight acres of slowly improving red earth (it originally looked like Mars had exploded!) on Oak Creek in northern Arizona. I started with chickens, then there were turkeys and Jersey milk cows. But with livestock came the predators: coyotes, bald eagles, black hawks, mountain lions, and, worst of all, raccoons. Dang those nasty creatures! They kill just because they can; think dogs with opposable thumbs. (Five chickens in one night–they reached in through the chain link and killed the birds with no expectation of being able to eat them.) They are the reason I keep livestock guardian dogs. There's the massive Polar Bear, a 135 pound Hungarian Kuvasz, Radha, the svelte and sleek 90 pound Anatolian Shepherd and her new chew toy, Rupert who is some sort of terrier mix and small enough to walk under her belly.

As for what my dogs guard, it's my growing herd of Dorper Sheep, a South African breed that (supposedly) doesn’t need to be sheared and gains all their weight on grass alone. I've also fallen in love with pigs, which are just dogs with snouts. Oh, how those rapscallions make me laugh!

If you're interested in keeping up with my farm antics, you can visit my blog at denisedomning.com or thefarmonoakcreek.com

Reviews

[Misfit]

Freebie today, but the new cover is atrocious.

[Irène Wadowski uliasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

j'ai autant aimé lire ce livre que le précédent voire même plus car il y a plus d'émotions dans celui-ci

[Carlie Van Amerongen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised when at about the middle of the story I found myself wanting to know what happened next, because in general, this book is beyond bad.

I give it a tentative two stars for the plot, but I almost had to take one away for the overuse of the words "yon" and "nay."

[Betty May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I found this book to be a good read. The characters could have more depth and detail. In my opinion the plot was good but not believable. There were too many times when the hero and heroin just seemed to waste a great experience. I did enjoy the story.

[Michele Lacroix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I read this book before I've read book one, but that doesn't matter. I loved this book with all it's complicated relationships. By the way this was another free book from Amazon.

[Aneca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Lady in White even more than I did Lady in Waiting. Lady in White is Nick’s story, or at least it is supposed to be Nick’s story because what happens is that he is not the only hero in this book.


When Kit made his bargain with Lady Montmercy in the previous book, one of his goals was to have his brother Nick married to the Lady’s daughter Arabella. The dowry would allow Nick to regain his title and build the family’s fortune. While the contract between them was dissolved when Lady Montmercy’s real reasons were revealed, the queen decided that the marriage should go ahead as proof of Nick’s (a catholic) good intentions towards his monarch. And that is how Arabella (Belle) newly widowed and with a young daughter finds herself on the way to meet her new husband accompanied but his right hand man – Jamie.


Belle and Jamie have a problem from the very beginning; they are immediately attracted to each other. I had a bit of trouble understanding how this could come about so soon but since they start spending more and more time together I really started seeing the attraction. But they are both honest people and determined to fulfill their duties so they don’t reveal their feelings to each other.


When they arrive at Nick’s castle their welcome is less than warm as everyone is catholic and Belle and her family are seen as the enemies. It is also obvious that despite the queen’s command and the presence of one her spies to witness the marriage and the bedding Nick is hoping to escape from it. In the previous books we were aware that Nick had a lady love, Cecily, with whom he hoped to marry, he finally does in the beginning of this book (the first chapter is wonderfully atmospheric and seems right out of a gothic novel) and that will be just one more problem that they will have to deal with as they try to comply with the queen’s wishes and the fact that her envoy would like none better than have some treasonous act to report.


So this ends up being as much Belle and Jamie’s story as Nick and Cecily’s. Jamie tries to protect his friend to point of pretending to be him when it was needed and Belle goes along with the deception because she recognizes that Nick is a good man and is trying to do the right thing by his wife and his name. When Jamie and Belle confess their feelings to each other they are torn between what they feel and what their duty is. Will they be able to find a way to be together? We can’t help but wish that they all may have their happy endings, because they are all very nice people caught in a desperate situation, but it soon becomes obvious that that is not going to happen. This whole story has a much more suspenseful feel than the previous one, a lot more subplots, and I really enjoyed that. There is also a ghost in the story and while its presence is more of an atmospheric feel for most of the action in the end it’s the ghost that is determinant for the well being of one of the main characters.


I have really enjoyed Denise Domning’s stories, both the medievals and now these. I have now added her books as Denise Hampton to my WL and I fervently hope that she decides to write new stories in the future.


Grade: 4.5/5

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm trying to find an author that combines a depth of plot and character with romance (though I don't want a romance novel) that doesn't have a lot of sexual content. So I keep trying. This wasn't it. It did have some nice plot and character elements, but I didn't necessarily find James to be incredibly likable, and some of his behaviors didn't have a distinctive reason. It also seemed like the characters behaved according to their time and customs except when it was convenient. But you know, I've read a lot worse. It did have some sexual content that put me off for a third star, but it had an interesting historical perspective.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was too confusing- should I have read the first book before this one for it to make more sense? We are introduced to too many character too quickly so it was hard for me to keep straight who was who and what their role was suppose to be. This book just wasn't for me- my own opinion - because of the start of the story threw me off the whole book.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly twisted tale of true love times two!

This was a gripping tale of a life long love, royal insecurities, abuse of power, loving forgiveness, guilt driven deeds and finally true love rewarded written by a truly talented author who spins some of the best plot twists I have read. She is in league with Kathryn Le Veque!

[MaryD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to "Lady in Waiting", this is Nick's story... and Belle's.... and Jamie's... and Cecily's. What a confusion of love, loyalty, and compulsion, but the story resolves itself in full if not completely "HEA".

[EileenNH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good representation of the Era.


This was a realistic fictional story about the complications of the Reign of Elizabeth I. The changing of one's religion and the support of the various factions at Court were hard to keep track of and hard to keep ones head and property.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written touching book.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded Up

Once again, it's not that it's bad. It's just awkward. She is used horribly by one man, who had his reasons, but STILL. There was a moment to really make some serious tension, but once again the author lets it go. Actually, there are so many chances for really good tension. Nail biting tension. Does she use them? Nope. So it's just...okay.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady in White (The Lady Series Book 2)

The love story of Arabella "Belle" and James. Queen Elizabeth has order Nick to marry Arabella to get his title back. Nick is to sick to come to London so James come in his place. Nick does not want to marry anyone but his nurse. James has falling in love with Belle. Will they dreams come true? Great story.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the 1500's during the reign of Elizabeth the 1st, this the story of a young widow being forced by the crown to wed again. The plot is good , has interesting characters, and a ghost! This is not a clean read, it is not erotic either.

[NELL C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Story

I read the first book in the Lady Series and thoroughly enjoyed it. This second book in the series is equally enjoyable. The writing is top notch with interesting characters and wonderful pacing. I highly recommend this series.

[Collete Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I have read most of me Dommings work and found these two books exceptionally pleasing, a nice love story and we'll documented with great characters, I am really looking forward to more series to follow, well done Domming.

[etherealfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited e-book

[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arabella Purfoy is in deep...



The Queen's summons arrived just after she and her daughter were booted out of their house by her stepson. On the way to the Queen, she and her daughter Lucy fell ill and had to hole up in an inn until they recovered. So now she's late—and without appropriate court attire—and just in case that's not dicey enough, she learns her mother is cooling her heels in the Tower for some bad acts. Belle isn't especially concerned for her mother—they're not close—but she does worry about how her mother's shit bad acts might splash back on her and her beloved daughter Lucy.



At the end of Lady In Waiting we left Queen Elizabeth I mightily po'd over a really creepy plot to deflower and publicly ruin one of her ladies in waiting. And one of the plotters was Kit Holliers. One of the goodies he was promised in exchange for his bad acts was Arabella's hand in marriage to his disfigured, reclusive brother Nick. Kit saw it as a way to help his brother regain the family's lost title. The Queen sees some advantage that escapes me here, and decides that commanding a marriage between a rather impoverished Protestant widow and a Catholic subject who wants his family's title back will somehow gain her something. So she tells Belle that she can marry a reputed monster or she and her daughter can join her mother in the Tower. Belle answers as she must. James Wyatt, Nick's sexy steward, acts as Nick's proxy.

Nick, meanwhile, does what HE must. He loves Cecily, his mistress, so he marries her in a Catholic ceremony before Belle arrives.

Questions of bigamy, adultery, and all other sorts of treason prevent the star-crossed lovers from going with their hearts. Toss in a little intrigue by a fellow who wants to convince the queen that Nick has conspired against her, just to keep the plot thick..

I loved the tangle the author developed here. Normally I want some kind of mystery or danger to keep the story moving, rather than just watching the romance inch along. Here, while there's not a great deal of danger, there's plenty of knots to unravel before we can possibly find the HEA, and it works.

There's also a little paranormal side to this story—I'm not into that. The ghost story here did tie up one loose end, but—maybe it's me—it still didn't quite feel organic with the rest of the story. And I want to think that after we die, we'll have better things to do than hang around our old digs and give people the willies.

3.5 stars. Paranormal romance lovers will probably like it better.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second and last book in a series by Domning that began with the last book I reviewed, Lady in Waiting. I probably wouldn't have read this one if not for the fact that I borrowed both of them via my kindle in a package deal, but I ended up enjoying 'White' more than 'Waiting.'

In 'Waiting,' we learned that the main male character's brother, Nick, is an invalid and trying to gain his Lordship back. Due to the events of that book, Elizabeth decides that in order for his title to be restored, he must marry and try to produce an heir. Nick doesn't like this idea because he's already (inappropriately) in love with someone else. And, the woman he's to marry ALSO falls in love with someone else. Again, this is a 'love and marriage but ZOMG OBSTACLES!' story, but I found the main love story (between Nick's promised wife, Belle, and his steward, Jamie) to be more believable than the love story in 'Lady in Waiting.' I did, however, miss the court intrigue. There is some attempt to add drama and danger through a character sent by Elizabeth to spy on (Catholic) Nick, but it never feels as dangerous as the potential traps set out in the first book.

There's also some random ghost stuff, which the author explains in both pre- and post-story notes. It's only a few pages and doesn't have that much of an impact on the plot, and I certainly wouldn't say it's scary (although the characters seem to think it is!)

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle has just been widowed when she is summoned to the Palace for an audience with the Queen. She is ordered to marry a man she has never met. She has already been tossed out of her husbands home and though she has a place to go their will be no dowry for her daughter. She must marry this man even though he is an invalid and greatly scared from a fire when he was a boy. But the worst thing is that he is Catholic. She is to marry him by proxy to his steward Jamie. A proxy for the Queen is sent to make sure that all goes as she planned. Belle is certain that being married in the Catholic Church would be a sin. How is everything going to work out? The complications just keep coming. It is an interesting book.

[Petula · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** This is the second book in this series. I think it will make much more sense to you if like me you have read the first one. Elizabeth the first is Queen and she is Forcing Belle into marriage with Nick,who is badly scarred from a childhood accident. Jamie is Nick's steward and must stand as his proxy for the wedding. There is some political and family intrigue along with a complicated love story. I really couldn't see how the author was going to work this out for a happy ever after. It certainly kept me thinking. I don't know if there are more to this series but I usually like this author's books so I will be on the lookout for more.

[Baby Snakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three stars given here need context: this book was a pleasant surprise. I often can not get through the dreck I find for free through book bub, but this one I read through in one sitring and enjoyed doing so.

It is a piece of genre work, so it's all plot with a little bit of character growth going on. Like all genre work, if you don't like this genre, this book will absolutely suck. If you do like genre, this is not terrible. So much genre work is so riddled with gramatical error and crappy language that an example with decent technical construction and a plot that is interesting enough to get me to the end deseves to be liked.

[Lisa C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one fell short. I'm a fan of Domning and have read and thoroughly enjoyed many of her books. However, this one falls short. It was just was so slow going, I kept hoping something would happen to move it along. There was a sneaky knight but nothing to liven things up, just a lot of talk about the queen and the inner workings of her court during the time period. Although, they were well written, I didn't really connect with any of the characters, except maybe Jamie. The lady in white was a ghost who showed up only a couple of times and didn't seem that vital to the story.

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story and the characters were very real and believable. Part of what I liked about it is that the characters in this one are not all the most beautiful people on the planet. They don't always have things together and they don't always do just the right thing at the right time. The legend of the lady in white was a small part in the story. I wish there had been more about that. I did enjoy reading this one.

[Darcie Duranceau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think that the current star rating is fair. This isn't the greatest historical romance that I have ever read, but it certainly shouldn't be shunned. I found it entertaining and emotionally convincing the vast majority of the time. SPOILER ALERT: The only aspect that I found bothersome was that the husband's death was so conveniently quick after the forced wedding.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

This book was delightful to read. It was fast moving and kept my interest from page 1. I enjoyed each character, even the bad. In liked that in these books those that seek to harm learn the error of their ways and have change of heart. Well written and Well done!

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was available as a free download from the kindle store. It was an easy, entertaining read with a happy ending and a good ghost story thrown in as well. I will definitely read other books in this series!

[Elizabeth Sintes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady In White

I guess you really blew me away, I really did not think I would like this kind of story but it was absolutely wonderful. I cried,laughed, and will always remember this story.

[Felecia Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the book

I have been reading romance novels for a long time and for the most part they don't surprise me. I can say with this book, it had a few and I enjoyed every one of them